Anything You Say

Sometimes the weirdest things seep through the stratosphere called “my world” and flow into my brain cells, often at a most unsuspecting time.

Such an instant occurred yesterday on my drive home from work.

The story has dominated local and regional headlines for the past month, with updates occurring each day during every newscast.

The national media has chimed in regularly as well, often as the lead story as details continue to unfold. Why my mind would steer in the direction of the topic on my drive home is anyone’s guess.

I can’t blame it on the Mexican food I did not eat at lunch!

Unless you are on a media fast or have left the planet and have severed all news feeds, the story of alleged cop killer and fugitive, Eric Frein, should at least be vaguely familiar to most of us.

Frein, a survivalist, is supposedly holed up in the woods which comprise the Pocono Mountains in northeast Pennsylvania and has eluded a millennial strong force of law enforcement officers since the initial shooting on September 12, 2014.

In my mind’s eye on the commute home, I pictured Frein being captured and law enforcement officers reading him his fifth amendment, Miranda rights.

From our exposure to television cop shows, these rights should ring a bell as anyone in police custody must be told four things before being questioned.

“You have the right to remain silent”. “Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.”

So on and so forth.

My thoughts focused on the “anything you say” part as I delved into mental “marinate on it” mode.

“Anything you say can and will be used against you…”, did a revolving door act as I pondered the phrase.

The phrase implies the use of words. “Anything you say” or translated, words. You can only say words.

A popular song, Words, by the vocal group, Hawk Nelson, came to mind as part of my commute.

I had the song on my phone and began to listen to it, most particularly the chorus. Words have the ability to erect or tear down. They can kindle a flame in our hearts or snuff it out. My prayer is for my words to be life and for my words be true. Often times I think of it in terms of words I may say to others.

There is a lot of validity in considering what I may say to another.  After all, we live in such a social world.

• Are my words life or are they destructive?

• Am I speaking truth or am I raining on someone’s parade?

Although I do not want to minimize what I may say to others, I often overlook the words I may say to myself. They too have far reaching effects and are often spoken with little thought as to what really is being said.

• Are my words to myself helping my cause or hurting it?

• Do they set me back or move me forward?

• Do they lift me up or tank me?

I am reminded of a verse I pray frequently.

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.” Psalms 19:14 (NLT)

I have a hunch I am not alone, as you too may share the use of words dilemma I have pondered. My encouragement to you is this. Be mindful of your words involving others, this is a given.

However, engage a radar system in the words you may say to yourself.

Will your words, “anything you say”, be used against you or for you?

Never mind the court of law thing.  Let’s simply consider the inner court.

Words can be life or they can be death.

Choose life.

Am I the only one who struggles with the issue of how I use words?